A World Wide Web Site for Teaching Vegetable Crops

Abstract

A teaching homepage was created on the World Wide Web at: http://www.hort.vt.edu/faculty/welbaum/hort4764 to teach an introductory college level course on vegetable crops. The homepage was designed to be viewed using Netscape software. Reading assignments and class outlines are formatted as .pdf files and can be viewed using Adobe Acrobat Reader. This software can be downloaded from the homepage. The homepage is linked to additional pages entitled: “Course description,” “Instructor,” “Text and other printed reference material,” “Class schedule and assignments,” “Class related pictures,” “Sample test questions,” “Chat room,” “Class project,” “Other web sites of interest,” and “Grading.” Two-hundred pages of text and outlines describing production of vegetables using plasticulture, vegetable seed technology, vegetable production under protective cover, and other topics as well as descriptions of 28 individual vegetables are available through the homepage. There are more 500 pictures and descriptions of vegetables and vegetable crop production linked to this website. Students can be examined using a computer testing system call Whizquiz that grades and corrects each exam. A Chat Room allows discussion among students and the instructor. Discussion sessions can be conducted between students and guests at distant locations. Student term projects on a range of subjects relating to vegetable crops are linked to the homepage. Links are provided to over 25 other World Wide Web sites with additional information on vegetable crops. This teaching homepage has been used for two semesters and students' evaluation of the system will be provided.